WindowsNetBoot < CF

CF Web>Windows>ImageDeployment>WindowsNetBoot (2007-02-28, MikeGore) (raw view)
-- Main.MikeGore - 10 Feb 2006
%TOC%
---+ CSCF Boot Disk
   * *Note* Work in progress
   * You can *PXE boot* the latest netboot image *asimov.cscf.uwaterloo.ca* can  on *vlan 420* - 192.168.1.0/24
      * [[CF.CSApplicationServer][Notes about PXE booting on asimov - and adding images]]

---++ What
   * Provides a network boot floppy (or CD) allowing network access to a file server for image deplyment
   * Based on the *"The Universal TCP/IP Network Bootdisk"* from http://www.netbootdisk.com/
  
---++ Where
   * Local CSCF updated copy can be found at *\\asimov.cscf.uwaterloo.ca\exports\export_dos\netboot*  
   * *cscf*          - Modified netboot project 
   * *netboot54*     - original netboot project
   * *netboot54.zip* - zip file for above
   README.txt


---++ Why
   * We needed a network boot disk that was easier to maintain and update then Barts Boot Disk<br>
    (A very capable but complex boot disk - full of spaghetti code and gotos with little internal documentation)

---++ Aditional References
   * PowerQuest - Power Quest Documentation
   * See [[CF.ImageDeployment][Image Deployment]] for details on using Power Quest tools from the network
   
---++ Main CSCF Directory and Notes
   * *bin*      - Utilities needed to build bootdisk
   * *Files*    - Flopp build source less OS boot parts
   * *bfi*      - Floppy image creation utility from Barts Boot Disk
   * *floppy*   - Floppy build target - all of the files for the final image go here
   * *images*   - Copies of floppy images we have built
   * *orig*     - Some original files - for reference - not needed
   * *os*       - Copies of OS files needed to make bootable floppy
   * *uha*      - Source folder for floppy image - uncompresses
   * *what*     - files that did not seem to be referenced by anything
---++ *cscf\* Files and Notes
   * *doit.bat*  - Builds a boot floppy (you can make a boot CD from the floppy image too)
   * *Files*   - Files used by <!>MakeDisk.bat and installed on boot disk
      * *FileCopy* - Used to hold User Preferences and scripts
         * *cscf.bat* - Does network mapping after booting<br>
         * *LMHOSTS*     - Map NETBIOS names to IP address as follows
<verbatim>
                127.0.0.1     localhost
                192.168.1.1   server
                129.97.15.251 asimov
</verbatim>

---++Theory of Operation
---+++ Files
   * *config.sys*
<verbatim>
     - uses tunz.com to extract boot.zip and creates 32Meg Ram Disk as Q:
</verbatim>
   * *boot.zip*
<verbatim>
     - contains command.com and UHARCD.EXE
</verbatim>
   * *autoexec.bat*
<verbatim>
     - starts from command.com (boot.zip from config.sys)
     - copies FILES.UHA and script.bat to Q: - ram disk
     - starts Q:\script.bat
</verbatim>
   * *script.bat*
<verbatim>
     - copy user preferences saved in menuperf.bat from floppy to Q: ram disk
     - extract (uharcd) FILES.UHA to q: - ram disk
     - starts Q:\bin\script2.bat (from FILES.UHA)
</verbatim>
   * *script2.bat*
<verbatim>
     - starts menu interface with timeout
     - starts network and other services
     - restores user preferences running menuperf.bat
     - starts optional user scripts as defined with menu
</verbatim>
---+++ Master Menu
   * Note: by default the manu menu will time out and execute the default boot script after a short timeout
      * With this menu you can change
         * How driver are loaded
         * Default Userid and Password
         * What post boot scripts  will run (ie a script to run - (See Example Scripts)
---++ Example Scripts
   * *<!>FileCopy\cscf.bat* -  Map network drives
<verbatim>
   @echo
   Rem EXPORT
   net use x: \\server\exports
   set path=%path%x:\bootdisk\bin;x:bootdisk\pqdi.550;

   Rem Nexus
   net use n: \\server\nexus

   Rem Core
   net use o: \\server\core

   Rem Sysprep
   net use s: \\server\sysprep

   Rem Optional Post Install Script Example
   REM n:
   REM cd \net
   REM call install.bat
</verbatim>
   * *n:\install.bat* - Nexus Automatic Install batch file
<verbatim>
   Echo Installing image on First Hard Drive
   pqimgctr /IDE=ON /CMD=N:\net\LAB.TXT /NOAFX
</verbatim>
   * *n:\LAB.TXT* - Nexus Automatic Install script ( See PowerQuest for more technical information )
<verbatim>
   SELECT DRIVE 1
   DELETE ALL
   Set Image Filename 'N:\4SEP2005.PQI'
   SELECT FREESPACE FIRST
   SELECT IMAGE ALL
   RESIZE IMAGE PROPORTIONAL
   RESTORE
   SELECT PARTITION 1
   SET ACTIVE
</verbatim>

---++ Rebuilding the boot disk
   * Map a network drive *\\asimov.cscf.uwaterloo.ca\exports*
   * In a *DOS* window *CD \export_dos\netboot\cscf*
---++ Adding network drivers
---+++ Files
   * *uha\net*          - location of new drivers
   * *uha\bin*                  - Executable utils
   * *uha\net\ndis.map*      - PCI IDs of network cards
   * *uha\CARDDATA.TXT*         - Network card configuration options
---+++ Steps
   * Copy new driver ( .DOS file) to *uha\net*
   * Add new PCI IDs to *uha\net\ndis.map*
      * Find new PCI IDS by running PCISCAN.EXE found in *uha\bin* while in *DOS* - *NOT Windows*
      * PCI IDS Master list can be found at http://pciids.sourceforge.net/
   * Update *uha\CARDDATA.TXT* if needed
---++ Building new Image
   * Run *doit.bat* from a dos prompt
   * Two files are written into the *images* directory *netb288.bin* and *netboot.bin*
   * You can write the images to a floppy with the command *rawrite* in the *bin* directory

---++ TODO
   * Add Screen shots
Topic revision: r6 - 2007-02-28 - MikeGore
Information in this area is meant for use by CSCF staff and is not official documentation, but anybody who is interested is welcome to use it if they find it useful.
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